[Agis]

Edit: After a long, hard struggle I deciphered a "solution" to getting the Beta process up and running, and now I'm downloading version updates at a steady rate.

Here's a quick summary of my Beta test "run" so far, reading from bottom to top:

Agis : (04 September 2010 - 11:35 AM) But all things are experimental, and that's the enjoyment of Open Beta for me so far.
Agis : (04 September 2010 - 11:34 AM) Or at least much safer than I previously had been, and I think it'll be a stronger character for having struggled through an initial lopsidedness in my Stats.
Agis : (04 September 2010 - 11:33 AM) On the bright side, it makes me a more defended type, and since I chose to dump my Point Allotment into STR, it should keep me safe.
Agis : (04 September 2010 - 11:31 AM) Welp, the game's gotten a bit tough, however I can report that I just got my first shield as a gladiator, and it just about cost me my entire gil stash.

Copied from shout-box.

Agis :-)

P.S.

Now the only part of the "puzzle" I'm missing is an upgraded sword from the one I began with, and I haven't been able to find one about Ul'dah.

If anyone would like to meet me on Istory and make me a sword, I would be very grateful.

This post has been edited by Agis: Sep 4, 2010 - 8:08 PM

[Takhimar]

I too have been unable to upgrade my sword yet. Though I am but rank 6 it is still troubling to me.

I too got my shield, at great cost. Worth every gil.

Now I pose a question, something to speculate on I think.

During a battle I use my shield, as expected.

After battle I see:
You gain 124 experience points
You gain 79 sword skill points
You gain 49 shield skill points

Now... what might gaining separate shield skill points mean? Does this mean that you must gain a certain amount of shield skill before you unlock a higher tier class? I find that doubtful, given how classes work. Does it mean that your shield related skills are on a separate leveling path than gladiator? Would you not learn Aegis Boon without one?

Tell me what you think.

On a separate note, I like how the blocking works in this game. Given that you can buy a skill from the gladiator's guild to increase it'd duration another 50%, I like it even more.

[Takhimar]

Further update:

You gain 96 Shield skill points.
You attain Sentinel Rank 2

Promising! Does this function as a complimentary class to gladiator? Or is it an unofficial class that anyone who can equip a shield will be able to utilize? Or is it indeed an advanced class that you have to level to access?

Thoughts?

[Agis]

Takhimar, on Sep 7, 2010 - 7:29 AM, said:

Further update:

You gain 96 Shield skill points.
You attain Sentinel Rank 2

Promising! Does this function as a complimentary class to gladiator? Or is it an unofficial class that anyone who can equip a shield will be able to utilize? Or is it indeed an advanced class that you have to level to access?

Thoughts?

Super! Having a higher Shield rating probably increases your success using a shield. Put differently: I'm positive you're doing well to see that Stat going up because any Stat rising is an improvement on your performance or the playability of your character when Gaming.

After all, there aren't any "Negative" stats in Gaming, meaning you would never see a high number indicating a weakness: Generally even seeing a low number indicates a Stat left unattended (not really your fault, or anyone's), because not all of us have complete prior knowledge to form a perfected strategy at the outset of distributing the points available to us.

Truthfully, having those weaker Stats makes for a harder learning curve, which when surmounted, makes for a vastly more interesting technique employed by the Gamer; an example is what I did by using 100% Dexterity.

Whence the particular / lower Stat is scaled / witnessed at full potential, there's no longer an imbalance, meaning there's no further "disambiguation" required. Like I said, that initial ambiguity makes for a fascinating process of revelation, which is what makes for a more characterized Gamer (Or clever) in any walk of life.

Gaming is a great fit for having the initial Strategic ambiguity, though, because your Statistical technique will make for a much more in-depth experience when you play the full version of the game. The disambiguation process will make for a nice, smooth "run" when you're out the gates, and thaaat is where the serenity of Gaming lies to most whether or not all of us Gamers.

Made that a bit convoluted because you're smart. Ha-ha!

Agis :-)

p.s. i copied this conversation not noticing your nickname's "motto". . . "arrogant snob at your service" thought you were referring to me after i made those posts or that someone else was sneaking into our very good glad thread saying "arrogant snob at your service" lol

Ha-HA!

This post has been edited by Agis: Sep 18, 2010 - 7:46 PM

[Dalkor]

Don't shields require Gladiator? Most other classes use weapons that require two hands anyway... I guess mages have a one hand alternate right?

That is interesting though! Maybe they will add two handed swords later, so Gladitaors will have a pure GLadiator for damage and Sentinel for defense. Speculaaaation

[Nestorm]

Well the Sentinel "class" is no longer speculation. Ive been playing the open beta for the past 2 days and its just like leveling the regular classes but this one only levels when you have a shield equiped on your off hand. I only tested it on Gladiator though. I got sentinel to level 4 only and i didnt get any ability but atleast now we know that sentinel is a class, or subclass or w/e lol.

[Agis]

Nestorm, on Sep 19, 2010 - 5:15 PM, said:

Well the Sentinel "class" is no longer speculation. Ive been playing the open beta for the past 2 days and its just like leveling the regular classes but this one only levels when you have a shield equiped on your off hand. I only tested it on Gladiator though. I got sentinel to level 4 only and i didnt get any ability but atleast now we know that sentinel is a class, or subclass or w/e lol.

Well, is it a real job or just a skill? As far as I understand, the only Job-jobs are the ones you choose during character creation.

As an off-shoot of the regular jobs it's definitely fantastic, though; you probably can't go wrong with such an open-ended system.

Which is the g r e a t part about FFXIV online.

This post has been edited by Agis: Sep 20, 2010 - 8:46 AM

[warshaman]

Ok, The sentinel idea seems sound as a sub-class. But I was wondering if anyone has equiped 2 weapons and if there was a similar sub-class (aka duel wield)?

[Takhimar]

warshaman, on Sep 20, 2010 - 7:58 PM, said:

Ok, The sentinel idea seems sound as a sub-class. But I was wondering if anyone has equiped 2 weapons and if there was a similar sub-class (aka duel wield)?

There is not as of yet. All weapons that I have encountered so far have been main hand only, with shield being the only one I could use on my off hand (excluding crafting and gathering classes of course).

I do believe that the gladiator description on the FFXIV site mentioned dual-wielding if I am not mistaken (which is a possibility, as I haven't been there in about a month).

I daresay that there will be dual-wielding in some form, whether it is as a subclass of gladiator or not will be revealed eventually.

This post has been edited by Takhimar: Sep 21, 2010 - 1:51 AM

[Dalkor]

That'd be neat. I hope other classes have sub classes too. I can see where this is going though, Gladiators have a offense weapon set and defensive weapon set. They can save two handed swords for katanas! XD when you equip shield abilities you equip them to the off-hand correct?

[Dyft]

There was an area to equip traits underneath the abilities in the beta. My guess would be that each job has traits just like they did in 11. I would be willing to guess that there will PROBABLY be a ninja class later on that will PROBABLY have a dual wield job trait. My guess would be that you would unlock ninja, level ninja to the level required to get dual wield then assign it on whatever job you feel like.. very much similar to sub jobbing ninja in 11.

[warshaman]

I don't know if adding the trait is all it would take. All of the other DoW classes have throwing weapons for their off hand or have a two handed type weapon.....the great axe and the bow. Unless they put in weapons for the other classes that natually use one hand to use. From I've heard mara is the best dmg dealer...to think you could lvl gladiator to get duel-wield then change to mara with two hand held axes that would be sick....or two small bow like weapons for archer. No I think it will be something only for gladiator to use.

[Dalkor]

From my short experience lancer had higher single target, but the amount of AoE Marauders have is... just... insane... seriously insane xD

If anyone realizes it from FFXI... the standard weapons that SE wanted most classes to use were all two handed. Ninjas, thieves, paladins and non-standard melee classes (like red mage) were pretty much the only ones who were meant to use single weapons that I can name off the top of my head. Square isn't very big on dual wielding, but alot of MMOs drill it into the ground to where it isn't even special (like WoW). Dual Wielding is an insanely, crazy feat to accomplish and use effectively.

It may be that only one or two classes will ever hope to dual wield, and I personally wouldn't really mind if it was like that.